Dear Editor,

According to the psychologist Erik Erikson, four of the eight stages of psychosocial development occur in childhood. The fifth stage, which is that of ego identity versus role diffusion, occurs during adolescence (Rathus 2007).

When students have a very definite idea of who they are and what they stand for, this ego identity helps them during challenging times, such as times of the all-important complete and thorough study plus revision for examinations, or dealing with peer pressure, the generation gap, temptations to juvenile delinquency, questions of friendship, dating, marriage and family, career and philanthropy. Ego identity helps to cause less fighting, fewer pranks, being more equipped and intellectually prepared for classes, having more respect and courtesy for teachers as well as classmates, and very definitely, more achievement motivation.

Adolescents who have inadequately developed ego identity are likely to experience role diffusion, which means that lacking concentrated, specific roles and goals in life, they may find themselves at the mercy of unscrupulous people who seem to present the sense of identity that the adolescents are searching for but cannot find. The quest for identity is universal.

Our Christian ethos presents answers. Young persons all over the world are asking the questions: Who am I? Where am I going? What will I become? The Holy Bible says we are all sinners who have come short of the glory of God. As such, we are headed towards non-fulfilment, unhappiness, failure, non-achievement. We inherit the sin tendency, characterised by low self-esteem. However, the Lord Jesus Christ comes to bring healing, salvation, self-actualisation and revival.

CD Smith

PO Box 164

Christiana, Manchester